Machine for making cords or ropes.



Patented 1m28,A |902-z 5 l T. w. nomma MACHINE FOR MAKING COBDS 0R BOPES.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1891.)

I0 Shinn-Shea? vI.

(No Model.)

um Inl .mi Nonms crans oo., PgoTaLwHo.. WASHINGTON. o. cv

No. 69I,79'8. yPamnte'lan. 28, |902.

' T. W. NORMAN.

'MACHINE FOB MAKING CRDS 0R ROPES.

(Application filed Nov. 1B, 1891.)

(No Model.)

THE Nonms PETERS co. vnoauwo.. WASHINGTON. n. c,

Pantdv lan. 28, 1902.

No. 69u98.

T. W. NORMAN. MACHINE AFR MAKING CRDS 0R RDPES.

(Application led Nov. 16, 1891.)

IU Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

. 'IM/ENTER.

Pulli] Y WTNESSEE:

3- KJ hifi' No. esmas. T. w. NORMAN. l

NAcHlNE Fon MAKING c'oNus DRNDPES.

@Application mea Nov. 1e, 1891.)

(No Model.)

l0 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTUR;

Patented Jah. 2s, |902.

N0. 69|,798. T. W. NRMAN. MACHINE FOB MAKING CORUS 0R RPS.

(Application led Novrll, 1891.) (No Model.) m sheets-sheet 5.

WTNESSES: IN VE NT ER.

may.

TH: Nannls FUER; co., Moro-LITRO.. wAsmNnToN. D, c.

No. 69l,7 98. Patented lan. 28,-' |902. I T. W. NORMAN. MACHINE FOR MAfKlNGYCRDS 0R RPES. (Application Sled. Nov. 16, 14891.)

(No Mpdel.) A l0 Sheets-Sheet 6.

TH: nofws Pzrcns co, wmaumo., wAsHmnTcu. u. c.

Patented 1an. .28, |902.

T.. w. NunMAN. .MAH'm'E Foa MAKmG cunnsvun RoPEs.

(Application me@ Nov. 1e, 1891.)

l0 Sheets-'Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

` l INVENTDI'R- TN: mams PETERS co. Puomumu.. WASHINGTON, muc,

Paienfd 1an. 2a, |902. T. w. NURMAN. v MACHINE FOR MAKING=CORDS 0B ROPES.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1891.)

(No Model.)

No. 991,799. vPatented 1an, 28,' |902.

T. w. NunMAN, MACHINE FOR kMAKING CURDS 0R ROPES.

(Application led Nov. 16, 1891.)

(No Model.) l0 Shasta-Sheet 9.

TN: imams PETERS C0.. PHnTo-LIYHO.. WASHINGTQN. D. c.

L 0 m .no1 2 n. a l. d e t n e t a P ,Ni A M B 0 N W .T. um 9 l1 M E nv. N

MACHINE FOR MAKING'GDB-DS 0R vl'IlPES.

(Appueeion med Nov. 1a, 1891.)

l lo sheets-snm no (N0 Modeh) I WITNEEEEE..

THE NoRRlS PETERS uo..`PHoTm |THO`. WASHINGTON, u. t;

- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS V. NORMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CORDS OR ROPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,798, dated January 28, 1902. Application filed November 16, Serial No.4 4:11,`969.` (No model) To @ZZ whom it may concern:

of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for- Making Cords or Ropes, of which the following is a specification. My invention has relation to the art of twisting, laying, and winding or bundling cords and ropes, and it has particular reference to that kind of machines which are adapted to receive spools loaded with yarn or thread, which yarn is drawn off and twisted into strands or cords, the latter being laid up intol a rope and coiled, the operation being continuous.

It is the object of my inventioutoprovide improvements in machines of the kind men! tioned in the following-mentioned partiell-l lars: in means for indicating tothe operative.;`

when the thread is about to run out from a spool; in means for applying frictionto the. vspools to put the strands drawnv therefrom under the desired tension and regulating the latter; in means for winding the strands drawn off from the spools; in means having reference to the capstans, pull-downs, fliers,

, and coperating devices; in means for pulling down the completed rope and delivering the same to the bundle-spool; in means for regulating the speed of the take-up spool relative to that of the Hier-frame; in means for winding the rope upon the bundle-spool in regular symmetrical coils and: under even tension; in means whereby the spool shaft or barrel may be readily collapsed to remove the rope Wound thereon; in means whereby 'the rope may be secured in a bundle ofthe most convenient form for marketing and use,

and invarious parts and combinations of parts incidental to those before mentioned.

To these ends my invention consists of the several improvements which I Will now proceed to describe and claim, reference being had toV the annexed drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occu r.

Ofthe said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation,-partially in section, of the upright portion ofthe machine which supports the yarn latter up intoa rope.

.rel of the bobbin.

lseveralfother views.

` v bobbinsiorspools and the means for twisting Be it known that I, THOMAS W. NORM-AN; of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Statey the same into strands or cords and laying the Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the horizontal portion of the machine,

'embracing the take-up spool or coiler, the reciprocating feed for the spool, and the various frictions or drag for the same. Fig. 3

Visv a top plan View of the yarn-bobbins and their iinmediately-associated parts. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a single bobbin and its adjunctive devices. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View ofa bobbin-support and the means for applying frictional resistance to the rotation thereof to put the strands under tension. Fig.r6 is a sectional detail View of a bobbin and its immediately-associated parts, a part of a layer of rope being shown on the bar- Fig. '7 is a detail view in -plan of a fractional part of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is adetail plan view showing the arrangement and relationship of the gears above the cap'stans and below the bobbins and illustrates also the arrangement of the gears below the capstans, whereby the latter are operated. Figs. 9 and 10 show, respectively, side and end views, partially in section, of main pull-down and immediate connections. Fig. 1l is a central sectional view of most ofv the parts represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 12 isaside elevation, on an enlarged scale,of parts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of parts represented in Fig. 12. Fig. 14. is a central sectional view of the parts immediately concerned in operating and varying the friction and also in eecting a variation of tension on the rope and securing the perfeet winding of the same. Fig. l5 is a perspective View of the dog shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the nut which acts directlyupon the dog to effect an increase of friction. Fig. 17

is a perspective view of the clutch part uponV which the dog acts directly'.v Fig. 18 is afriction-disk upon which the part shown in Fig. 17 acts directly. Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 21 is an end View, partlyin section, of portions of the devices shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 22 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the improved knockdoWn,take-up, or bundle spool. Fig. 23 is a sectional detail View of the same and showing but two of the four segmental staves which compose the barrel of the spool. Fig. 24 is a sectional view looking at the inside of a spool-liange. Fig. Fig. 25 is a similar View looking at the outside of a spoolfiange. Fig. 2G is a sectional detail view showing a spring-cleat on an enlarged scale. Fig. 27 is a top plan view of the spool, flier, and im mediate connections, showing particularly the position of the pull-down on the dier-bar and the driving mechanism for the same. Fig. 28 is a sectional detail view of the rope pull-down. Fig. 29 is a perspective view of one ofthe pull-down or catch bolts. Fig. 30 is a detail View in perspective designed to show the cam-surface which acts upon the heads of the catch-bolts. Fig. 3l is a sectional detail View showing the relationship of the bolts and bolt-heads to their actuating-cam. Fig. 32 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 2S. Fig. 33 is a sectional end elevation of a spool and iiier. Fig. 34isasornewhatsimilar View outside ofthe flier,designed to show particularly the means for driving the rope pulldown. Fig. 35 is a plan view of a part of the bundling means. Fig. 36 is a perspective view of a coil or bundle of rope as it comes from my improved collapsible spool. v

In the organization of my improved ma chine, t designates the frame for supporting the movable parts. The portion of the frame shown in Fig. lis upright, and upon or in the upper end thereof and properly supported are the bobbins ZJ, herein shown as three in number, though there may be two or more.

@designates theimmediate bobbin-support, which consists of afriction-disk resting upon a base d.

e designates the spool-shaft, provided upon its lower end with a screw-thread, which end is screwed into the hub of the base d, that it may be made removable and that it may be readily replaced by another of different diameter to suit spools having barrels of different diameter of bore.

fdesignates an arm, one for each bobbin, hinged at its inner end upon the upper inner e'nd of a bracket g at a point centrally over the bobbins and resting at its outer end upon the bobbiu-shaft e, so as to prevent the vibration of the latter. This construction also provides means by folding back the hinged arm for the ready removal and replacement of the bobbins.

t designates a spring-lever secured at one end to the barrel ot' a bobbin and adapted by the winding of rope thereon to be pressed into a groove' in the barrel, the angulaiportion at the free end being adapted to be pressed into a radial groove in the inner face of the bobbin-head.

t is a gong located on the bracket g, and j is a gong-striking device pivoted in the said bracket with which the outer beveled end of the lever h is adapted to be brought into contact when the said lever is released, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and so sound the gong. As is clearly shown iu Figs. 3 and 4, a single gong may serve for all of the bobbins.

In use the ceiling of the yarn or thread upon the barrel of the bobbin will begin at the end opposite that to which the spring-lever is se-l cured, so that the latter will be released and the gong sounded before the yarn ou the bobbin has quite run out, all as will be understood wit-hout further description by an inspection of Fig. G.

The lower spool-head b is provided with a notch or depression into which tits a lug or stud 7c on the disk c. The latter is retarded in its rotation with the bobbin by the pressure thereon of a spring-plate l, held upon the base d by two screws, as shown, the degree of pressure being regulated by the degree of tightness with which the screws are turned down.

m designates an arm extending obliquely upward from each of the bases d and provided upon its upper end with aguide-pulley n. The thread or yarn leaving the bobbin i? passes over the said pulley n, thence to and under a pulley o, journaled in the base d below the base of the arm m, thence to the central pulley p in the hub of the base d. Thence it passes through the tube-shaft q of the combined flier and pull-down frame fr, thence to the first capstan s, thence to the second capstan t, both in the frame 1*,and thence through the tube-shaft u to the former u, where the threads are laid up or twisted into a rope. The capstan t is driven by a bevel-gear w, fast on the capstan-shaft 5t', the latter gear being in turn driven by a bevel-gear y, rigidly fixed upon the upper end of the tubeshaft u, which passes through the lower end of the pull-down frame r. Each of the said tubes u is rotated by a gear 7c, (see Fig. 8,) the latter engaging a central gear ,e and the series being operated by a gear o.' on the driving-shaft 1J'. gears shown in Fig. 8 also show the construction and arrangement of the gea-rs on the hubs or shafts of the flier and pull-down frame r for driving the same in conjunction with thebase d. 1t is necessary that this last-mentioned set of gears should be of a different size from those rst described for driving the capstans in order that a dierential motion between the two sets of gears may be secured, so as to cause the capstans to operate slowly, as required.

After the rope leaves the former 1J it passes through the tube-shaft c to and around a mainor larger pull-down pulley d'. (Best shown in Figs. 9 and 10.) The pulley d has a corrugated face and is journaled on a shaft e', having bearings in the rotary framef, the said pull-down pulley being driven bya bevelgear g', fast on the shaft e', which gear g' is engaged by a like gear ou the lower end of the tube-shaft c. On the upper end of the tube-shaft c is a spur-gear h', engaged by a similar gear t" on the driving-shaft b' t2, compounded with the bevel. There is a porce-A The IOO

lain tube j inserted in the rotary capstanframe f' (see Figs. l, 9, and 10) to avoid excessive wear upon the frame by the friction of the rope.

The main pull-down frame f', Fig. 1, is driven by gear Z', secured to the lower portion of its shaft, which is engaged by a gear m' on the driving-shaft b at a speed slightly faster than the tube-shaft c is driven. This differential motion is sufficient to secure the necessary slow action of the pull-down pulley. This slightly differential speed heretotofore mentioned is required, for the reason is shown in Figs. 28 and 29.

that the pull-down or capstan at each revlution may take away, say, six inches of rope, while the pull-down frame may put in, say, for example, merely twelve twists in such length of rope. Hence the tube-shaft through which the captan is operated would be driven eleven-twelfths as fast as the frame, resulting in a differential motion of one-twelfth in the speed of the capstan relative to that of the frame. The rope now passes down over a pulley n', secured to the lower end of a bracket o', connected with the frame et, to and through the tube-shaft of a beveled geaip on the end of a shaft of the take-up or bundling flier. The said gear jp is driven,as shown, by another similar gear q on the lower end of the main driving-shaft b. The rope next passes over two pulleys r and s on the bar or frame of the take-up ilier. (See Figs. 2, 11, and 27.) Thence the said rope passes over a pulley t on the take-up-flier frame to a pull-down mechanism. (See Figs. 27 and 2.)

Detailed views of my pull-down mechanism are shown in Figs. 27 to 32, inclusive.

My improved rope pull-down, which isarranged on a sleeve u,-adapted to be rotated on one of the frame rodsor bars c' of the ilier, consists of agrooved pulley or hub asecured upon the said sleeve, in holes formed in one disk of which are arranged a series of sliding bolts b2, provided on one end with squared heads c2 and having their opposite ends adjacent to the groove d2 of the pulley a2 and which act upon the rope concave in form, as Adjacent to the pulley a2 on the Hier-shaft c' is a hub e2, splined upon the shaft c', so as to move longitudinally thereon to a limited extent. A collar f2 is secured to the iierbar o' a short distance back of the hub e2, anda strong spring g2 is interposed between the said collar and hub, asis best shown in Fig. 28, so that the hub ezmay be held normally up against the hub cl2 with a yielding pressure. The outer portion of the face of the hub e2 adjacent to the pulley c2 is constructed as a cam h2, against which the heads of the bolts b2 rest, being pressed back thereagainst by springs 2, interposed between the heads of the bolts and the bottom of the countersinks formed in the pulley a2. It will now be understood that if the rope should be arranged in the groove d2 of the pulley a2 and the latter should be rotated as the heads of the bolts rode up on the higher part of the cam h2 the rope would be grasped by the inner concave ends of said bolts and be carried around and drawn off or down until the heads of the said bolts left the higher part of the cam, when they would release the rope. In the upper part of Fig. 28 a bolt is shown in engagement with the rope, the head of the bolt being on the higher part of the cam, while below there is shown a bolt released from the rope, the head resting upon the lower part of the cam, the springhaving pushed the bolt back. The ends ofthe bolts brought into contact with the rope are concave in form in order that'they may present a larger grip-surface to the rope and also to prevent abrading the same. The heads of the bolts beingsquare, as shown in Figs. 29 and 3l, and one side of such squared head moving in contact with the wallj2 on the inner edge of the cam-surface h2 (see Fig. 3l) prevents the bolts`from` turning and keeps their concave ends in proper position toengage the rope. By adjusting the collar f2 toward and from the hub c2 the force with which the bolts may be made to engage the rope may be adjusted, and the spring g2, in-` terposed between the collar f2 and hub e2, provides means which permits knots, lumps, tc., to pass through the pull-down without injury thereto.

The means for driving the improved pulldown just described is lfully shown in Figs. 2, ll, 27, and 34, wherein a spur-gear k2 is shown as secured to the outer end of the sleeve u',

said gear engaging another spur-gear Z2 on,

a short shaft m2, which passes through the nier-head and has a sprocket-wheel n2 on its outer end. o2 is a chain which passes over the sprocket-wheelfn2 and another sprocket-wheel nl?, of larger size than the one rst mentioned, on a collar o12 and connected with a spur-gear q2 on the worm-shaft r2. The said worm-shaft is driven by a gear s2 on the outer end of the nier-sleeve t2, which gear s2 engages a gear u2 on the worm-shaft. A

In the operation of the machine herein represented it may be supposed that the pulldown just described in each revolution' on the shaft c' carries over it six inches of rope,

IOO

IIO

while that length of rope requires ltwelve I,

twists or revolutions of the iier to form and complete it. Therefore the sprocket-wheel n2 is geared so as to make one revolution on the flierframe while the nier rotates twelve on its own axis. This is accomplished by driving, through 'the gears mentioned, the sprocket-gear 0112 eleven times in the same direction as the ilier during each twelve rotations of the latter,thereby securing a backup or differential motion of one in twelve for the pull-down, as required.

The action of the take-up flier as the rope is fed through the pull-down carried thereby is clearly shown in Fig. 33, from which pulldown the rope passes to the spool and is closely coiled thereon. The rope being fed -slowly and regularly through the pull-down to the spool haul the latterafter the flier at a speed, say,onethirtieth slower than that at which the iiier moves, the speed of the spool increasing only as the diameter of the coil or bundle of rope on the spool increases. The hauling tendency of the rope mentioned also furnishes driving power for the gears o3 and Q3, which effect the rotation of the sleeve to2, and consequently the reciprocating` motion of the spool.` (See Figs. l2 and 13). It will be apparent that a drag will be produced on the rope by the friction of this reciprocating mechanism, which will tend to retard the rotation of the spool. This drag, however, will not produce a sufficiently taut wound coil or bundle of rope. Hence I have added an extra drag or means of retarding the movcment of the spool by providing gears p3 and r3 on the spool and Vfriction-sleeve shafts Z3 and to2 of different dimensions from those of the gears oS and Q3 and have added frictionflange s, which runs free on shaft to2 to further retard the movement of said gears and increase the friction. (See Figs. 2, 1l, and 12.) Fiiction-fianges Z5 and o2 are splined on shaft to2. Again, as the diameter of the coil or bundle of rope on the spool increases the leverage of the rope upon the friction devices also increases, and to offset this and to preserve a uni form tension on the coil I have added mea-ns for automatically increasing the friction.

`v2 designates a disk constructed as a pulley splined on the sleeve M2, arranged to reciprocate upon the worm-shaft, (and which sleeve to2 carries the friction gear and disks employed to control the motion of the spook) between which disk c2 and gear r3 are int-erposed one or more friction-disks $5 and The outer face of the hub of the disk o2 is constructed as a double cam ai?, which is arranged to cooperate with a similar cam y2, formed on the inner face of the hub of the clutch part (See Figs. 1S and 17.) Teeth a3 are formed on the periphery of the outer face of the clutch part .212, which teeth as the reciprocating carriage 3 (which is moved by the fork m3, engaging the threads of wormshaft ai) reaches the outward limit of its travel are adapted to be engaged by a dog c3, pivoted upon the worin-shaft r2, by reason of a cam CZ3 on the outer face of a nut e3, screwed on and made rigid by aspline with the sleeve to2, coming in contact with the lower arm of the dog, as shown in Figs. l2, 1t, and 20.

It will be remembered that the flier rotates at a somewhat faster speed than the spool.

I-lence the engaging of the dog c3 with the teeth of the clutch part e? can only be of momentary duration. During this period, however, the clutch part .e2 tightens up on the disk o2 by reason of the action of cams y2 upon cams 02. As soon as the cam Z3 passes from under the lower arm of the dog c3 the spring f3 will operate upon the said arm to disengage the dog from the teeth a3 of the clutch part By the time the cam d3 comes around again the carriage will have been moved inward by the traveler or fork m3, engaging screw 33, a distance sufficient to permit the said cam to then pass the dog without affecting it.

I have found that the frictional connection between the dog c3 and cam (Z3, together with the force required to tighten up the clutch part z2, is greater than the friction-drag of the gear r3 and friction-flanges. This causes the spool to lock with the flier and the two to rotate at the same speed. The result of this is the failure of the rope to coil or be wound upon the spool. To avoid this, I have supplied the momentary extra friction shownin Figs. 2, ll, l2, and 2l, wherein a belt g3 is shown as passed about the periphery of the disk o2 and engaged with the head of a thumbscrew 7a3 thereabove. The said thumbscrew passes through the outer portion of a bar t, which is pivoted at its inner end upon a lug or bracket bx, connected with the carriage b3, and has its outer end beveled, so as to ride up on a pulley or rollerjg, having bearingsin a stationary part of the frame d, at the time the carriage reaches the outward limit of its movement and at the moment the dog c3 e11- gages the teeth of the clutch part z2, so as to supply enhanced friction to the disk n2 and compel the dog to operate and avoid locking of spool and flier, as before mentioned.

It will be seen that the clutch part z2 has a given number of teeth a3 on its outer periphery or edge and also that it has two halfway round or double cams if. The teeth CL3 are arranged in the ratio of one to every two layers of rope in a coil, as in the construction here'shown. The dog operates on the clutch only at every other layer or when the carriage reaches the limit of its outer travel. It is to be noted also that the cam y? by being made double, as described, is better balanced than though it were single, since a single cam between the parts t2 and would throw said parts out of true.77 For example, if the part z2 had nine teeth half-way around its surface it would operate for a coil of eighteen layers and would then snap back to its starting position, thereby releasing the friction gears and flanges from undue friction or pressure, so that the parts would be in position for a change of spool and the beginning of a new coil or bundle of rope without readjustment by hand of the friction mechanism. Should more than eighteen. layers be required in a coil or bundle, a clutch part e2 would be supplied having teeth a3 in number to suit.

In Fig. 13 there is shown an end View of the spool-rod 7c3, spool-sleeve Z3, fork or traveler m3, and worm-shaft fr?. r

I will next proceed to describe asa part of my invention a spool having a bearing longitudinally of the flier and the improved form of means employed to operate the spool in order to coil the rope perfectly thereon, as well also as the means for knocking down the spool and removing and bundling the rope. ndesigna-tes a dog on the spool-shaft Z3, (made hollow or constructed as a sleeve,) which is IIO ZDV

' ratio, thereby effecting the action ofthespoolfl giving the necessaryleX- tra timefor themachine to furnish more'rope forthe extra cir1`` fis A cumference caused byitsl lastV layer,l andso'v Y flier.

691,798 f v` y.;

adapted to engage one end of the spool and con nect the same with the spool-shaf t, so as that'it will turn therewith. The gear o3 on the outer end of the spool-shaft Z3 connects with the gear g3, rigidly fixed on the friction-shaf t wg, and operates the latter in unison with the spool. Upon the inner end of the shaft w2 and supported by the same is'the traveler or o motion between the liierand thefspool is'e'X- .actly sufficient to wind the rope upinto even and close coils upon-fthe'spool, and jeven though the diameter of the coil .orbundlein-y creases as the spool iills'this dif ferent-iaipmo-,l

tion decreases at thesame time. in the'same reciprocatingv devices, as shown above, and

it becomes of its own accord its ow-n governor close coils. A o Y y i o Referring again toFig. 33,1itfwillbe'seen that the flier in its revolution `tends tohaul the takeup spool t3 after it. 4I have herein,- before referred to this action-as .furnishing power not only to rotatethespoohbu-t also* to operate all of the means whereby the spool is traversed andreglilated in its motions to effect the perfect coilingof the rope thereon,

In the traversing operation off the `spool the friction-shaft 102 is rotated at a dierent .speed` from the wormshaft, causing the lfork vor traveler m3 to 'traverse the worm-groove 3.3,'

and it is to be noted thatthis traverse coming fromxthe spool, as shown, isself-adjusting as respects-the laying ofthe rope onto the spool in even coilswhen properlyl geared to do so.

It will be noticed thatvthe spool tsfbacks up somewhat as it follows the speed of the spoolt3 the latter would' runfin unison with the flier and no action would `be given'to the traveler ms-that is, there would kbe no differential motion between the worm-shaft r2 and the fork -shaf-t 102,' but the pull-down aforesaid being operatedat a given speed, as shown, feeds forward the rope vat a regular rate, and the `drag on-the rope being the propelling power -for the spool hauls-the latter along at a slower rate than the flier, the frictionbetween'the flier and the spool operating to control the relativespeed between the spool and flier, so` as to effect a feeding forward of the rope atl a regular rate, as aforesaid, no matter what the circumference of the bundle A,on the spool may be. lThis operates to give one differential revolutionof the spool with 'respect to the flier in each circle or turn of ropeA Now if the ropepull-down on the-bar v "0 did not operate to feed outtherope to the wormshaft, .with,which-thegear s2 engages, are of ditferentsize, and the;sameth'ugvr vS -true ofthe gear 'ofonthel spool-shaftals'and- 'thegear q3 ,below onfthe `traveleror friction- ;v shaft 102.. VThis variation in, the` size ofthe-,v

y gears isy made in voifderto effect they?c slowing? down of the side-'to-sidetraversingjactijon -ofth'e'fvtraveler orfork in this-instance to v "such adegree thatftlie*travelerwiil makebut;l jone-ha'lfa revolution ofthe worm-.shaftWhilef 'a complete coil is beinglaidupon thespool-,r yi ,f the reason forthis beingfthat thepiftchfof the I groove 's3 yon the worln'fshaftjrzisi double that i jdescribed by thelropefwoundlupon thespoolQ 2 at each-backward revolutiomso `that the Y spool will back downtworevol-utionsin it-S' raceyafter the fiierandlay. two coils/while the e y VtravelerWinake's,onerevolutionfofthewornnejf vsl1aftr2--` in laying the rope onto the spool. in regular t Irina that I een' varyrhfsideielsid.'reed Inotionlofy the spool to @any other :proportion 'f than that "above mentioned byfvaryingf the size ofthe four-,gears las'thereinbefore-noted.- -v

y Myimproved,collapsible spool is bestshown in Figs. l1', 22, and23.)y Supposin'g the spoolfv Ato be full andy that it'iswanted toremoveit' from-the'machine,lmay first release the dog mstorelease thespool from thespooll-shaft '1 Z3, and then bya twist or" partial rotation of thefliershaft k3 b'yfa manipulation of therk handle fiuFig. 12, Ij unlockthe inner end Vof.,

los I lthe latter shaft from its'\bayonetjoint"conf ynection with the flier (seeFig. 11),;and draw v .f it outward, having jrst cut the rope, thereby, wf

freeing-the spool from themachine.,- I. thenl remove the free ends ofthe cords sfromunvder .the spring-,cleats yfon the ends' of` their; f

spool `(the other ends of vthe-cords being sea vcured to rings fion the ends of thespool-v barrel) and tiethe ends ofopposite cords to,-4 'gether over thebu'nd'le, as is shown inFig. 1 36, I next remove the unter* from the spool#l tube b4 and withdraw the spool end or disk;`

c4 therefrom, when the four segrne'ntalstaves Y v d4, supported on the hubs ofthe spjool ends' or disks and constituting the barrel of the spool, as indicated in Fig. 24, will collapse. 'A and the segments and spool-tube?)4 can'easily; be removed and the spool readjustedf'and placed again in the machine.

As is represented lin Fig. 26, are constructed as a spring., so contrived yas that the ends of the band m3 may be drawn thereunder and heldfciamped between' the same and the end of the spool, so as'to make knotting or tying, the ends 'of the cords unnecessary. t l

After the empty spool has been placed in proper position in the machine I take the end the ,cleat-spia of the rope from the pull-down on the flierframe and pass it through a hole e4, (shown in Fig. 25,) formed through the end of the spool, making a knot on the end to secure it in position to insure its winding on the spolbearer, as is represented in Figs. ll and 22. Before readjusting the spool, as mentioned, I place on the ends of the spool-bearer z3, adjacent to the heads or disks of the spool, a metal ring f4, having four bands or cords 003 tied to each ring at quarter-points thereof, and having set up the spool I bring the end of each cord or band up over the end or disk of the spool through the grooves g4 and notches h4 in the periphery (shown in Fig. 24) and fasten the free ends under the cleats U3, as is clearly portrayed in Fig. 33.

Fig. 36 represents a finished ball or coil of ropeI as it comes from the machine, the inner and intermediate layers being as evenly wound that of the outer layer.

The rings f4 (represented in Fig. 35, where the cords are also shown as attached thereto) can be formed of any suitable material-such as metal, wood, or ber; but in every instance the rings at each end of the ball or spool must not be connected through the hole in the ball or coil by any cord or band, since -it is the intentionwith this feature of the invention to make these balls` or coils available to unwind the rope from the center, so that the center must be left free. In the coils shown and described in my former applica tion the bands go through and around the ball, and hence the rope cannot be unwound until the bands are cut and either a suitable support is given inside or until the rope is sys rewound into balls which adapt it to be with drawn from the center.

'While I have been particular in the descrip-l tion of the construction, arrangement, and operation of the means represented in the drawings, it is obvious that these may be changed within the limits of mechanical skill without departing from the nature or spirit of my invention.

What I claim as of my invention isf-1 l. The rotatable bobbin or spool having its barrel longitudinally grooved,and havingaradial groove in its head or disk, a relatively stationary gong,a relatively stationarily mounted gong striking device, and an angular spring-lever secured at its end to the barrel of the bobbin and extending along the groove in the same, and having an end extending up in a radial direction in the groove in the head or disk and adapted to impinge upon the gongstriking device to operate it, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the relatively stationary gong and the relatively stationarily mounted gong-striking device, of a rotatable drum having a disk with a radial groove, and an angular spring-lever secured at one end to the barrel and having a bent end lying in the radial groove and adapted to operate the gongstriking device, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The revolnble bobbin or spool, a base or support d therefor, and a tubular shaft q relatively to which said bobbin may revolve, in combination with an upwardly-extending arm fm rigid with said base and shaft, a guidepulley non the upper end of said arm, a guidepulley o in the base below the lower end of said arm, and a third guide-pulley@ arranged below the bobbin so that the axis of the tubular shaft is substantially tangential to its periphery, as set forth.

Il. A revolnble base or support, a bobbin or spool revolnble relatively thereto, and a tubular shaft q, rigid with the base or support, in combination with an arm, m, having a pulfley n on its upper en'd, and a pulley o below its lower end, and a pulleyp having bearings rigid with the shaft, and having one side of its periphery in line with the opening in the said tubular shaft.

5. The combination with the bobbin and its base or support and hub d connected therewith of the capstan-ier r provided with a tubular j ournal-shaft q extending into said hub,

a pulley p journaled in the latter, and a pulley o, supported in the lower part of the base near the edge thereof, as set forth.

6. A rope pull-down, comprising in its construction a pulley or hub a2 having a groove affording a guide or lbearing for the rope, longitudinally-movable bolts b2 in the said hub for engaging and being disengaged from the rope, a cam for moving the said bolts into engagement with and gripping the rope, and springs for moving them in the opposite direction combined with the flier-shaft and its sleeve upon which the said pulley is located.`

7. A rope pull-down comprising in its construction a pulley or hub a2 provided with a groove d2 for the passage and guiding of the rope, longitudinally-movable bolts bsupported in the hub, a hub or collar e2 provided with a cam-face hi for acting upon the bolts to cause them to engage and grip the rope, and

springs i2 for moving the bolts in the oppothe said hub e2 against the bolts by a yielding pressure, as described.

9. A rope pull-down comprising in its construction a pulley or hub a2 provided with a groove d2, for the passage and guiding of the rope, lon gitudinally-movable bolts b2 supported in the hub and having concaved ends and IOO IZO

squared heads, as described, a hub e2 provided With a cam-face h2 and a wall jg at the side thereof, for acting upon the heads of the bolts to move the latter into engagement With the rope, and springs for moving them in the opposite direction, as set forth.

.10. Aropepull-down, comprising in its construction a grooved pulley or hub a2 affording a guide or bearing for lthe rope, longitudinally-movable bolts in the said hub for engaging and being disengaged from the rope, a cam for moving the said bolts into engagement with the rope, and springs for moving them in the opposite direction, the said bolts being provided with squared heads and concaved ends, combined with the Hier-shaft and its sleeve upon which the said pulley is l o cated.

11. A collapsible spool having the barrel b4 and surrounding segments d4 and provided on its ends with the spring-cleats ys, as set forth.

12. A collapsible spol,combined with rings f4 adapted to be placed on the ends of the barrel, for attachment of the bundling-cords :103, and said spool having means for maintaining the bundling-cords in place where attached.

13. The combination, With the iier and its shaft, gear s2 thereon, the Worm-shaft, gear u2 thereon meshing with the gear 's2 and differing in size therefrom, the spool-shaft, gear o3 thereon, the traveler and its shaft, gear qs on the traveler-shaft, diering in size from gear 03, as set forth. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 5th da5T of No- `Vember, A. D. 1891.

THOMAS W. NORMAN. 

